Annuals or perennials. Leaf-blades linear to subulate. Panicle usually much divided, rarely spike-like. Spikelets linear-lanceolate to oblong, small, often gaping and with the rhachilla prolonged beyond the floret; glumes persistent (rarely the spikelet falling entire), subequal, mostly lanceolate and acute to acuminate, membranous, often shining, 1(-3)-nerved; lemma oblong to elliptic, shorter than the glumes, truncate or denticulate, thin, (3-)5-nerved with the nerves often excurrent into mucros, awnless or awned from the back; callus small, obtuse, glabrous or pubescent (rarely bearded); palea usually shorter than the lemma, sometimes obsolete.

A genus of 150-200 species mainly in temperate and cold regions, especially in the northern hemisphere; 8 species occur in Pakistan.